Tag Archives: Elks friends

My First Mexican Burger

Posted on September 2, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

My Elks friends who meet for breakfast every week occasionally go out for lunch.  When my friend Michele messaged me that they were going to the ParkSide Drive-In in St. Johnsville today, I was happy to join them.  Seven of us went in two cars, and it is a nice drive out Route 5 to St. Johnsville.  I took a picture of the sign for blogging purposes.

Note to self: ParkSide is one word.

Some people were ordering from the take-out window, but we went in and ordered at the counter and sat down.  I had no idea what to get, until Jack reminded me the place was known for Mexicans, which is a burger with peppers and onions mixed in and special Mexican sauce.  I had never had one, so I got that.  I asked for sauce on the side, in case it was too hot.  I got coffee to drink, not being one to drink soda.

The other specials did look tempting.

The Mexican was yummy!  And the sauce was not too hot at all.  I did not use it all, but Hitch was happy to take the rest to dip his fries in.  He said he was going to ask for Mexican sauce to dip his fries in from now on.  I said I liked to dip my fries in different things.  Cheryl mentioned enjoying fries in tartar sauce and was surprised to find I liked that too.  She had a hot dog with sauerkraut, mustard, and relish.

After lunch, Cheryl, Michele, and I had ice cream.  Yum!  My weight-loss daydreams recede a little further into the distance, but at least I hadn’t also gotten french fries.

Parkside Drive-In is located at 7485 State Rt. 5, St. Johnsville, NY, phone number 518-568-2802.

 

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Oh, the Avocado!

Posted on August 28, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

This morning I did not want to get out of bed.  I was so comfy and sleepy, I wanted to doze for at least another hour!  Isn’t that always the way it is?  I was wide awake at three.  If I had no place in particular to go, I would have been up and at ’em by five, six at the latest.  Because it was the day for breakfast with my Elks friends, my treacherous body wanted to sleep.  I suppose this is of less interest to my readers than the cafe where we enjoyed breakfast, though, so I will cut to the chase: Castlewood Cafe in New Hartford, NY.

It is perhaps not a castle, but there is a lot of wood.

I knew it was across the street from Sangertown Square mall, and I worked for almost seven miserable years at said mall (the less said about that the better), so I felt I certainly knew how to get there.  Several different ways, as a matter of fact.  Of course I haven’t worked there since 2011 and rarely shopped there, so the different ways of getting there are pretty much all mixed up in my head, so it was perhaps not as smooth a drive as I envisioned.  However, the road I picked did come out where I thought it did, and for once I did not drive right by the place and have to back track.  Yay me!

Not as good a picture, but I wanted to break up the prose.

My sister Cheryl has eaten there and said they sometimes have stuffed French toast as a special.  Yummy!  Sure enough, they had three different kinds on special, and a few more in the regular menu. Hitch got the pumpkin-stuffed kind and said it was delicious.  I was my usual indecisive self.  I had just about decided on Crepes Florentine, having only recently discovered crepes, but then Bonnie ordered an egg sandwich on Focaccia bread with avocado, hard-cooked egg, tomato, cheese and red onion.

“Oh yeah, that!  I’m totally getting that!”  I said.  My friends laughed at me for my sudden change of mind, but they laughed in a nice way.

It was a delicious meal, accompanied by Paul de Lima coffee, which I particularly like.  I also got the chance to give Michele the duck I had gotten for her last Thursday (perhaps you read my blog post about it).

Castlewood Cafe is located at 8548 Seneca Turnpike, New Hartford, NY.

 

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My Two Duck Day

Posted on August 21, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title this morning, when I told a stranger it was a two duck day for me.  But let me back up and lead with a very silly picture of me.

Enough bling even for me!

I met my Elk friends for breakfast this morning.  Bonnie was returning from a trip to Disney, and she had brought presents!  I was quite delighted with my sparkly Minnie Mouse ears, although I fear I will need a whole new outfit to really do them justice.

We met at the Friendlys on Burrstone Road in New Hartford, which has one of those claw machines with little ducks in it.  I had gotten a little duck the last time we had breakfast there.  My friend Michele said she was going to give me money to get her a duck today.  Alas, the machine with the little ducks was out of order!  I told her the next time I was in Ilion, I would stop by Colonial Laundromat, where they have a claw machine which is try till you win.

“Only they don’t just have ducks; they have other little animals,” I warned her.  “So I might not get a duck.”

Spoiler Alert! I got a duck!

I impulsively drove through Ilion.  It was hardly out of my way.  It was a good thing that machine was try till you win, because it took me a while to get that duck!  Still, it was the exact duck I wanted.  I can’t wait to give it to Michele.  A lady doing her laundry congratulated me on my win.  Then I saw a vending machine with all ducks for 75 cents.

Who could resist a little squishy duck?

“It’s a two duck day for me,” I told the lady.  And just like that, I had my blog post.

 

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Post-Lobster Post

Posted on August 9, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I suppose some people are waiting for a Post-Lobster Post, to follow yesterday’s Pre-Lobster post.  I traveled with some of my Elks friends to Cobleskill Elks Lodge where they were having their annual Lobsterfest.  The others had been there before, but this was my first fest and indeed my first full lobster. Yikes!  I heard they were hard to get into.

Yes, wine was involved.

I did not remember to take a picture of my two lobsters and all the fixings.  Instead I had at the first one right away, working with a nutcracker and determination.  I did not even begin the second one but had brought a couple gallon storage bags to take leftovers home in.  I brought home the corn on the cob, cole slaw, and watermelon, too, although I did eat the salt potatoes.

I put in for several items on the basket raffle too, but did not get lucky this time.  I also got in on the 50/50 and a wooden rocking chair raffle, so I feel I supported the Cobleskill Elks Lodge.

Only part of our fun bunch!

On the way home, we stopped at the Esperance Elks Lodge, just to say hello.  That’s the fun part about being an Elk, lots of lodges to check out.

I did not go up these stairs.

We also stopped for ice cream.  I got a root beer float with chocolate ice cream.  Yum!  It was quite the fun day, and I have a whole lobster in my refrigerator, waiting for me to crack it open and enjoy.

 

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Breakfasts and Beverage on Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

Posted on August 6, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would do a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday blog post today.  A quick check of my phone showed I had a few pictures I had not used, so let us see what I can find to say about them.

The road not taken.

I impulsively took this picture outside of Bridge Street Diner in St. Johnsville, NY after breakfast with my Elks Friends one Thursday.  I wish I had zoomed in closer to the hill and bridge. The road is another way I could have taken to go home.  I decided not to that day, because I wanted to make a stop in Dolgeville, which was the other way.  Of course I first turned the wrong direction at the end of the street and went the total wrong way to get to either destination, but I soon righted myself.  This is how I see new sights.

Speaking of breakfast…

Sometimes I fix myself an cheese omelet for breakfast.  The shape of this one struck me as so unusual, I took a picture.  I suppose I only could have cleaned off the coffee table for a better picture, but then the omelet would have gotten cold.  The coffee table is still a disaster, but I am working on it.  Slowly.

I was drinking wine at the time.

When I was at the Herkimer Elks Club after the car show on Saturday, a fellow at the bar ordered what sounded to me like “rum and coke.”  No, no, it was this whiskey, Roe and Co.  The bartender gave me a little taste.  I liked it but not enough to get a serving like the one shown here.  I made a note in my notebook (I never leave the house without at least one notebook) about it, as well as taking this picture.

This puts me over 300 words.  I say, Yes!  I leave the house soon for further Mohawk Valley Adventures.  Or at least a walk to the post office, to mail a letter to a friend.

 

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Another Good Breakfast

Posted on July 31, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Thursday I met my Elks friends for breakfast at Marr Logg Restaurant in Utica, NY.  We had eaten there before and liked it.  I liked that I knew exactly where it was, having driven by it many times back in my National Guard days.  OK, I didn’t know EXACTLY where it was.  I knew which street it was on and drove slowly till I found it once again.

Bonnie held my leftovers while I took the picture when we left.

I was the first to arrive and staked out a large table.  There was an even bigger table with a Reserved sign on in, but I knew that wasn’t for us.  We never reserve.  For one reason, we are never sure how many of us are going to arrive.  I sat down, got coffee and glanced at the menu.

“I’m happy to see you’re open on Sunday,” I told the waitress.  “I often feel like breakfast on a Sunday and can’t find a place that’s open.”

She encouraged me to come, and said if the parking lot looked full to come in anyways.  “Sometimes eight people are meeting, and they all drive their own cars, so it’s not as busy as it looks.”  I promised to remember.

I was happy to see some friends show up soon, and Bonnie was REALLY happy to see the waitress with the coffee.  So was I, quite frankly.  I had been up since before six and hadn’t had a cuppa.  Of course I was quite indecisive as to what to get.  Everything looked so good!  At last I settled on two eggs over medium, hash browns and Italian toast.  I ended up taking most of the hash browns home. When I saw the omelets others had ordered, I made plans to order one of those next time.  At one point I had to take a picture of the chef I had taken a picture of last time.

A very patriotic fellow.

I remember taking a picture of him the other time we had been there.  I wonder if  I can find it in my Media Library, because I believe he was dressed differently.

There he is!

I love when a restaurant or other business dresses something for the season!  I will certainly suggest returning to Marr Logg in the fall to see what attire the chef spots then.

Marr Logg Restaurant is located at 1130 Culver Ave., Utica, NY.  They are open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday and for breakfast only on Sunday.

 

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I Add to the Media Library

Posted on July 30, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Continuing my trend of posting the next morning for the previous day, I offer a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday blog post early-ish Thursday morning.  I must hurry to make the post, as I am not yet dressed (I am wearing a robe, just to spare anybody an unfortunate mental image) (you know who you are) but must get ready and leave soon to meet my Elks friends for breakfast.  I was delayed by the problem of transferring photos from my phone to WordPress, thinking it was not successful, giving up, then deleting the extras when in fact I had transferred said photos three times.  I add my technological problems, thinking some readers may say, “Thank God, I’m not the only one!” Although I am equally certain others will shake their heads in a superior, self-satisfied manner (0nce again, you know who you are).

This will not be the chef of this morning’s breakfast.

I took a picture of this cute little guy at Yetty’s Pizza and Pasta in Herkimer, NY recently.  Alas, Yetty’s does not serve breakfast.  But I may go there for dinner.

Some people finish books!

I took this picture at a recent Frankfort Town Board meeting.  The board was honoring Vincent Palmieri, who has written two books about the Frankfort he grew up in.  I must find these books and read them.  They sound good.

They were fine, yes!

This is the Jake Lozo band, who I heard at the Ilion Elks Lodge after the DooDah Parade.  They were awesome!  I must go hear them when I will not be so tired and can stay longer.

I see I am over 250 words (thanks to my wordy first paragraph), and I still have time to make myself beautiful (I feel certain I flatter myself there) and meet the gang for breakfast.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Tip Top Breakfast at Top of the Morning

Posted on July 17, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I met my Elks friends for breakfast this morning at Top of the Morning Cafe in North Utica, NY.  We had eaten there before, so I was able to refrain from annoying the car behind me by slowing down at every turn looking for Coventry Avenue.  I may have annoyed other cars with other driving behavior; I make no promises when it comes to annoying people.

I remembered to take a picture on the way in.

There were many good menu choices as well as some tempting specials.  I dithered and debated.  Then I went ahead and ordered two eggs over medium with Italian toast.

“That’s it?” Michele said.  I had been looking at some pretty elaborate meals.

“I’ll eat it, and I’ll like it,” I said.  Actually, the eggs were exactly the way I like them, and the toast had plenty of butter, also the way I like it.

I enjoy a simple breakfast sometimes.

I also liked the coffee mugs: what I call a four-finger mug, because the handle is nice and big.  I put pepper on my eggs but no salt.  Lately I have been eating eggs without salt and find I like them just as well.  Who knew?

Bonnie got one of the more elaborate breakfasts. I think it was a meat lovers scramble.  I took a picture for blogging purposes.

It did look tempting!

I may get one of the bigger breakfasts another time and take some home.  For today, I enjoyed what I got.

Top of the Morning Cafe is located at 414 Trenton Rd., Utica, NY.

 

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Blanche DuBois, Can You Help Me Now?

Posted on July 10, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello, and welcome to a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.  I only hope I can come up with a headline sufficiently intriguing to entice people to read what I can come up with.  To put things out of order, I lead with my best picture, which I took late in the day, when I gimped on my crutches to the Elks Lodge to see whichever of my friends might happen to be there.

Baby Firefighter?

Logically, I suppose a child dropped the doll and a later by-passer placed it on the fire hydrant so it would be obvious to anybody returning hoping to retrieve said toy.  I just thought it looked cool.

When I returned home, I took a couple pictures I perhaps should have taken this morning.

Can you even tell I mowed?

This is usually the day I meet up with some of my Elks friends for breakfast.  Unfortunately, I had neglected to find out where they had decided to meet. I could have reached out to one of them to find out, but instead I thought I ought to mow my back lawn before the heat of the day, which promised to come early.  Accordingly I went out and checked my gas container, which I had thought was empty and I would have to fill it.  It had gas in it!  I excitedly filled my power mower.

I was a little worried that it was only about 7:23.  I walked out front and saw some guys in a pick-up truck turning around in the apartment building at the end of my street.  I flagged them down and asked how early one could get away with mowing with a power mower.  They thought 7 a.m. was a good time.

“I just don’t want anybody cursing me,” I said.  Two guys in the pick-up thought I was all right.  Encouraged, I went back to my mower.

Only to find out I could not start it.  I primed it.  I checked the oil.  I waited and primed it again.  I walked out front again and saw a young man who looked fairly muscular.  I did not know him but made bold to approach him.  Like Blanche DuBois, I have always relied upon the kindness of strangers.  He nicely agreed to try.  After a couple of tries, he got it started!  Unfortunately, his keys were stuck in the safety doodah.  Luckily, I was able to ease them out without stopping the mower.

 

 

Another view of my efforts. Please ignore the Halloween decorations behind the plywood.

Thanking my benefactor, I went at that back yard!  I confess, there is quite a bit yet to be done with clippers, etc.  However, when I finished what I could do I was tired!

Oh dear, look at this, I am over 450 words!  That is a long blog post for me, and I have no ideas for a headline or a conclusion.  Never mind.  It is Thursday.  I have made a blog post.  As my mantra says: We do what we can do, and if it’s not enough: tough!

 

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Back with the Breakfast Club!

Posted on June 26, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Since I drove myself around Herkimer, NY (where I live) twice in the last two days, I made bold to drive to Little Falls to join my Elks friends for breakfast at Ann Street Deli.  I believe I have mentioned that there is a group of us who meet every week for breakfast at various local places.  It was not that far of a drive, after all.  I made it there with no problem, found a parking place close to the door, and went in to await my friends.  I did not have long to wait.

Good for breakfast or lunch!

As you may have guessed by the snow if not the Christmas decorations, this is a picture from earlier this year.  It is difficult to take a picture while gimping along on two crutches.  Sometimes I use one crutch in order to carry something in the other hand but I did not do so this morning.

I had a croissant sandwich with one egg, cheese, and sausage.  It was quite tasty.  I cannot remember the yummy sounding things my friends ordered, but I may order them another time; then I will remember and report back.

More than the good breakfast, I enjoyed the company of my friends.  Being incurable sociable as I am, it was good to talk to people.  Of course I was able to talk to family members this past weekend, but for the most part I have been alone on my couch.  It’s not that I do not enjoy my own company, but you can get too much of a good thing.

I am so delighted to write about a Mohawk Valley Adventure again!  I hope I can have another one soon.

 

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